IN THIS AGE of the "Sputnik" and "Explorer" earth satellites — in this age of TREMENDOUS change in all life and thought, caused by the fantastic scientific inventions of man — where is the voice of God's PROPHET?
What does Almighty GOD have to say about the awesome time in which we live?
IS THERE REALLY A GOD? Has God forsaken His creatures? Why do we behold the deafening SILENCE from the professing ministers of God about the real meaning of the age in which we live?
Or, if we hear anything at all, why is the message couched in generalities, in uncertainties, in empty platitudes, in the mumbo-jumbo double talk so familiar to theologians?
Yes, WHY if God is speaking through the ministers today?
The Shocking Truth
Part of the answer is revealed in recent surveys of American churchgoers.
Notice! One recent survey found that more than half of those interviewed were unable to name even one of the four Gospels!
Another survey asked people whether they felt that religion was "very important." A vast majority of Americans said that it was. But then they were asked: "Would you say that your religious beliefs have any effect on your ideas on politics and business?"
Fifty-four per cent said, "No."
Pollsters found that eighty per cent of Americans believe Christ is God. But when thirty outstanding Americans were recently asked to name the hundred most important events in history, the birth of Christ came fourteenth — tied with the discovery of X-ray and the Wright brothers' first plane flight!
In the light of these facts, is it any wonder that the American church-goer is IGNORANT of any possible relationship between the Bible and the momentous times in which we live?
Same Shocking Conditions in Britain
It is significant that a Gallup Poll in Britain disclosed similar findings. As reported by the London "News Chronicle," the religious poll in Britain revealed that: "Only one in nine regards acceptance of the New Testament as the hallmark of a Christian. In the view of most people it is no longer essential to accept the Bible as Gospel to be a Christian."
The poll also revealed: "The trend today is away from the churches and from the concept of a personal God, towards the uncertainty of agnosticism and the impersonality of a life force."
It may be painful to admit — especially in the face of growing "modernism" and moral laxity — but people follow their leaders! If the ministers of Britain and America were thundering to their congregations the message of the Bible, if they were reading, explaining and expounding the very word of God in the church services, their flocks would automatically come to understand the reality of God and the importance of His will and way.
There is a REASON for the appalling ignorance and spiritual lethargy existing even among those who attend church regularly!
Why No Prophets Today?
Many people have wondered why God Almighty has not inspired the lips of denominational preachers with prophetic messages on the meaning of the awesome events occurring before our eyes. WHY are the pulpits so silent or so vague in the face of some of the most dramatic events in earth's history?
Here again, the real reason is that the minister are not studying and preaching the BIBLE as the solid foundation of all their ministry. Remember that Jesus said we are to live by EVERY word of God.
Did you know that fully ONE THIRD of the Bible is prophecy? How many sermons on Bible PROPHECY have you heard in church during the past year? Does this number represent about one third of the total? If not, WHY not?
God revealed to the apostle Paul the spiritual degeneracy that would dominate in these last days. Under inspiration, Paul warned Timothy: "Preach the WORD; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." How FEW are the ministers who preach this way today!
Paul continued: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (II Timothy 4:2-4).
Paul's prophetic warning has become a sad REALITY!
In increasing number, the new leaders of this professed Christianity consist of modernists, psychologists and "do-gooder" sociologists — all of whom have practically no knowledge whatever of the Bible, and very little interest in acquiring any. Is it any wonder that church members themselves exhibit an abysmal ignorance of what is supposedly the very source of their beliefs?
How the Bible is Regarded
Perhaps many of you have not fully realized the extent to which our modern-day organized church denominations have departed completely and absolutely from the Bible in their faith and practice — and in many cases without any apologies whatever.
The following newspaper headline illustrates this heathenish trend: "Biblical Law Ignored,' Ladies Will Preach."
The newspaper article continues: "Two of the nation's largest Protestant denominations are making a clean break with St. Paul's classic advice to early Christians: 'Let your women keep silent in the churches.' Henceforth, women will be able to speak — with the full authority of ordained ministers. . ."
Ask yourself candidly, how do you think Jesus Christ feels about that headline — "Biblical Law Ignored"?
Did you notice the careful way in which this newspaper writer worded his announcement of rank heresy? He said the denominations were making a break with Paul's "classic" advice to "early" Christians.
Let us correct that misleading statement! These two large denominations are making a dean break with Paul's inspired COMMAND to ALL Christians of EVERY generation!
God's Word tells us: "ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Tim. 3:16).
No matter how well organized, how deeply entrenched within our social structure, how highly regarded by this world's society any group of ministers may be, they CANNOT be the true ministers of God if they reject His Word and refuse obedience to His commands!
When men openly substitute human reason and the customs of worldly society for the divine revelation of God, then we have "respectable" PAGANISM! Such worship is a vain thing in the eyes of God. Jesus said: "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:7). Then He added: "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition" (verse 9).
How often do the dignified clergymen of today announce that such and such a custom has been "hallowed" by "traditional" observance in their particular denomination? Since when does human reason or human tradition hallow — or make holy — anything?
No, it is GOD who sets the standards. It is Almighty GOD who determines what is right and what is wrong — not a divided and confused "churchianity."
What Is Sin?
Another example of how denominational leaders cast aside the Bible authority was given to me not long ago in the form of a newspaper advertisement. It was a religious advertisement by a major Protestant denomination, and the headline read: "What is SIN?"
In the key paragraph which answers the question, this Church publicly states: "The way we look at it — that is, the way it's interpreted to us — sin is defined as the error of imposing our own wills over God's will."
To anyone who does not know his Bible, this might not seem like such a bad definition. But if you think about it, this "definition" of sin is not a definition of sin at all!
It leaves completely open for interpretation what God's will really is. And only the answer to THAT defines what sin is!
Moreover, this man-made definition completely overlooks and evades the plain, clear, divinely inspired definition of sin given in the Bible. In I John 3:4, God says: "Sin Is the transgression of the law."
What is wrong with GOD'S definition of sin?
The truth of the matter is that churchmen don't like God's definition and they don't like God's law as summarized in the Ten Commandments. Taken for what is says, that law strips bare all the rottenness and perversity that has crept into modern churchianity!
Instead of admitting this — and correcting it — men prefer to reason: "The way WE look at it — that is, the way it's interpreted [by whom] to us . . ."
It's time to WAKE up!
Do you begin to realize how FAR modern "Christendom" has departed from the Christianity of the New Testament? Do you see WHY God has not raised up any inspired prophets as a part of modern churchianity? Why such little understanding of these times is voiced from the pulpits? Why the inspired voice of Divine AUTHORITY is lacking among today's prominent religious leaders?